U.S. stocks are closing broadly higher as traders were encouraged by a pickup in consumer confidence and rising prices for energy, according to the Associated Press. The Dow climbed 192.71 points (1.10%) to 17,720.98, the NASDAQ gained 66.95 points (1.33%) to finish at 5,107.94, and the S&P 500 increased 21.86 points (1.06%) to 2,078.36. The Russell 2000 was up 12.31 points (1.07%) at 1,160.52, and the Wilshire 5000 closed 217.25 points (1.03%) higher at 21,333.14.

On the NYSE, 3.1 billion shares traded, with advancing issues outnumbering declining issues nearly 3 to 1. On the NASDAQ, 2.7 billion shares changed hands, with a more than 2 to 1 lead for advancers.

ON THIS DATE: In 1853, the United States bought about 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico in a deal known as the Gadsden Purchase. In 1903, about 600 people died when fire broke out at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago. In 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed. In 1924, Edwin Hubble announced the existence of other galactic systems. In 1953, the first color TV sets went on sale for about $1,175. In 1972, the United States halted its heavy bombing of North Vietnam. In 1976, the Smothers Brothers, Tom and Dick, played their last show at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas and retired as a team from show business. In 1980, “The Wonderful World of Disney” was cancelled by NBC after more than 25 years on TV. In 1993, Israel and the Vatican established diplomatic relations.